Riddle Me This

Q:  Why did the Dachshund bite Rush Limbaugh in the ankle?

A:  Because he couldn't reach any higher.

Dachshund Stories in History: BAN IS PLACED ON THIS CLEVER HOUND

While conducting Dachshund research at a local university, we stumbled upon this fun old article, from The Chicago Defender, April 19, 1913:

Daschund (sic) Taught to Watch the Players During the Progress of Card Games.

Winsted, Conn - Friends of Eugene McCaskey have placed the "no admittance" bar on his daschund whenever he goes to their homes for an evening at cards, because the canine has been taught to watch the floor and seats about a table while a game is in progress.  Not only will he pick up a coin or card which finds its way to the floor and carry it to his master, but the daschund watches players who are in the habit of concealing a card between their legs or on a seat beneath their legs for future playing.
One of Mr. McCaskey's friends was bitten in the leg after concealing a card, hence the edict.  The dog has other sporting activities.  When his master goes fishing along the shore of a lake, he will grab up the pole when the bob disappears in the water and run along with it until the fish is on land.

Why a Mailman Doesn't Stick Fingers in the Mail Slot

From youtuber Mailmandolin, a mailman and mandolin player: I deliver to this home. There is a Dachshund that lives there. He doesn't like the mailman.

We see the dachsie still got a treat though.

Our Special Dachshunds: Meet Ricky!

Betty S. writes: My 4 1/2 month old new puppy, Ricky is a genious!
The TV is usually on in our family room as background noise. Ricky's x-pen is not far from it, and he does like to watch tv occasionally. Some programs get his attention more than others, and he sits alert and looking intently, sometimes cocking his head to one side or the other.
The other day, Michael Vick (of the pitbull fame) was shown on TV. Ricky stopped what he was doing, glared at the TV, and GROWLED! Since I have had him, I have never ever even once heard him growl, not even in play. He meant it too. When the image of Michael Vick went off, Ricky went back to his toys.
Now is Ricky a judge of character, or what!

We think so. He's handsome too. Thanks for sharing, Betty!

Michael Vick's Jury Selection

Damage Control

We're having a bit of a problem at The Long and Short of it All, we can't get beyond the reports of the recent study which has revealed that dachshunds are the most aggressive dog breed. What happy news can we report today? We're trying, we're trying, but a look at google news right now gives us the top dachshund stories: 82 news agencies report the study's findings placing dachshunds at the top of the list of the most aggressive dogs, and 205 news agencies report the dachshund who was euthanized after eating its' owner's toe last week.
Where's the good dachshund news we love to report? Where's a dachshund who finds a dinosaur bone? Where's a loyal dachshund who runs away from home after his human dies, and shows up days later, miles away across busy highways at the funeral? Where's a story of a human who never really loved a dog until they had a dachshund? Heck, we'd be happy to have another story of a dachshund raising a piglet.
At least the above cute photo and text from Australia's Mercury made us laugh a little: WOOF, WOOF! ... Striking fear into all he meets is Bart, a miniature smooth-haired dachshund, the world's most aggressive dog breed.
So, this is a call to arms, dear dachshund readers. Tell the world what wonderful dogs we are. Call the paper or TV station when we save a cat under the house. Tell your friends when we bark all night to rescue our human who fell. Explain how we inspire you through art or prose. Shout your titles and wins. We're loyal to the last beat of our heart. Best Friend. Cute as can be. Handsome to a fault. Champions to the core. Bed warmers. We are Dachshund.

New University Study Finds Loveable Dachshund the Most Aggressive Dog

Aggressive? Us? We try to avoid negative dachshund news around these parts....large dog and coyote attacks, the sad tale of the dachshund who was euthanized this week for eating the toe of their human.....we want you to come here and leave with a smile on your face, never a frown. The goal of The Long and Short of it All is to be a place that inspires you and your dachshund to be all that you can; to read about the great things that dachshunds do, and the humans who are inspired by the love of their long dogs.
But let's be frank, it's not a great week to be a dachshund. There was a major study just released which places the dachshund at the very top of the list among 33 breeds as the most aggressive breed of dog. How can this be?
The study, by the Center for the Interaction of Animals and Society, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, interviewed 6,000 dog owners, and can be found at Science Direct, but there is a fee to view it. If you would like to read it, email us, and we'll send you a .pdf copy.
The Discovery Channel took a look at the study earlier in the week, and while small dog bites aren't potentially as dangerous as that of larger dogs, offered some explanations on how small dogs, including the dachshund, chihuahua, and jack russell ended up at the top of the list:

"Small size very likely plays a large role in the development of fear-based aggression among some breeds," Duffy [research specialist at the University of Pennsylvania] explained. "Smaller dogs may feel more threatened by other dogs and people -- a perception that may be well founded."
"There is some evidence that smaller breeds are more often the targets of aggression by other dogs," she added, "and small breeds, particularly Dachshunds, are more prone to injury due to rough handling by children, so this form of aggression among small breeds may be a learned response due to negative past experiences."
Although certain pooches appear to be more cantankerous than others, the study supports the old adage that "there are no bad dogs," since aggression is often balanced by other more beneficial attributes, such as watchdog skills.
"Most dogs are a mixed bag of positive and less desirable traits -- just like people," says Duffy.

Read more of the review of the study at The Discovery Channel, and see some of the statistics at Discovery's blog. It all comes down to the sampling method in this sort of study we think, although the sampling method seemed valid here. But, if we interviewed 68 of our dachshund friends about their nipping habits, we feel the results would be vastly different; we don't like being included in such lists. Likewise, as far as "breed discrimination" goes, some of the pit bulls, rottweilers, and german shepherds in the neighborhood are our best friends, and are as gentle as little lambs.
This study has also hit the press, and the dachshund isn't coming across so favorably in sensationalistic articles by the Telegraph and The Daily Mail.
Read about the necessary community approach to dog bite prevention at the AVMA.

The Daily Mail's Top Ten Thugs

Royal Dachshund Trouble

We think we know who is really running the palace in Denmark. Just last Thursday, we reported that 'Helike,' the Queen's dachshund, was hit by a car, and there haven't been any updates, but we certainly hope that she is recovering.
This week, there are reports that a royal dachshund attacked one of the Queen's guards, resulting in a 3-week sick leave for the 20-year-old guard, who was on standard patrol at the time. Time to call The Dog Whisperer. Read all about the drama at The Copenhagen Post.

Related: Queen of Denmark's Dachshund Hit by Car

Firefighter Hero Saves Dachshund

Thanks to Marene H. for the tip about this heart-warming story!
Meet lucky 4-year-old red smooth 'Blin,' who hails from Mesa, Arizona. A fire broke out at her home with her humans gone, and the neighbors called the owners, who asked if their pets were safe. The Mesa Fire Department Captain went in to rescue Blin and a turtle, but a cat is still missing. Excerpt from NBC 12 News: Mesa fire says the captain went into the home, and found the little Dachshund named “Blin” in an area where there was a moderate amount of smoke, and pulled the animal to safety. “The dog was actually hiding,” says [Blin's human] Dan Bleak, “and she actually pulled her out… the dog actually bit her, and she still pulled her out.”
Bless our heroic firemen, or in this case, heroic firewomen. Read more and see a nice news video at NBC12 News.

Lucy the Dachshund Gets a Reprieve

Meet 'Lucy,' the not-so-dangerous black and tan smooth dachshund, and one of her humans, Monique Hobson, aged two. Lucy got loose in October of last year when the family was bringing in groceries from the car and nipped at the ankle of a burly neighbor who pressed charges. Due to a 1991 dangerous dog law, there was a potential fine of £5,000 or 6 months in jail, and Lucy could have been put down. Thankfully, she got a reprieve. Excerpt from The Daily Mail: An eight-inch-high "sausage dog" was given a reprieve by magistrates today after her owner was cleared of letting a dangerous dog run out of control.
Burly landscape gardener Shawn Anderson claimed he was "inconsolable" after miniature Dachshund Lucy allegedly nipped his ankle and bit his jeans.
But Newcastle Magistrates' Court heard he suffered no injuries, there were no teeth marks and no damage to his jeans after the yapping dog ran round his legs outside his flat in Gosforth, Newcastle, in October last year.
He lived in the property below Lucy's owner, Melanie Hobson, 26, her husband Steve and their two children, Monique, two, and four-year-old Jacob.
Magistrates heard that Mrs Hobson was carrying shopping from her car after a trip out with her children when Lucy ran off, barking.
The court heard the dog approached Mr Anderson, ran round his legs and, according to him, bit him on the ankle.
One of the two young children ran up and grabbed the dog, the court heard. Mr Anderson then shouted at the owner: "If your dog bites me again, I will have you done."
The court heard Mrs Hobson replied: "What are you on about? She didn't touch you."
Read the rest.

Lucy with Owner Melanie Hobson and her daughter Monique

The Burly neighbor